Soybean Farmers Take a Valuable Trip Across Minnesota

2012-07-26T16:06:00Z2012-07-26T16:07:48ZSoybean Farmers Take a Valuable Trip Across MinnesotaMinnesota Farm Guide

July 26, 2012 4:06 pm

Mankato, Minn. – July 26, 2012 – Whether it is for weed control, pest management or nutrient management, research is a vital part of agriculture.

Earlier this month, twelve Minnesota soybean farmers participated in a four-day research road trip across the state of Minnesota.

Hosted by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), the See For Yourself trip highlighted why land-grant university researchers, Extension specialists, and farmers are such an important team.

The participants toured various field stations and met with University scientists and local farmers to learn how research benefits their individual operations.

The trip began at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, where the participants learned about soybean breeding and genomic research.

They continued on to farms and field stations across southern Minnesota, all the way to Roseau, Minn., near the Canadian border.

In addition to learning about new soybean research, the participants had the opportunity to network with other farmers across the state at on-farm meals hosted by fellow soybean farmers Paul Simonsen, Greg LeBlanc and Jim Kukowski.

Participants on the trip were impressed by how different farming can be across the state. “I was very impressed by the number of soybean acres up north,” said John Luepke, farmer from Nicollet County. “Learning what issues they face compared to what happens on my farm was surprising and educational.”

As the group traveled across the state, learning about everything from glyphosate resistance to nitrogen flux in soil, it was easy to see the benefits of public research to farmers and consumers of the growing world.

Farmer-funded public research is creating higher-yielding, high-quality, higher-profit soybean crops. This increased productivity from public research means consumers have access to a more abundant, wholesome and affordable food – with lower stress on the environment.

Scientific research is very important to today’s farmer, and to Minnesota’s economy. When farmers successfully turn scientific discoveries into higher crop yields, they not only provide the world with an abundant supply of safe and affordable food, they also advance U.S. energy security through renewable biofuels, protect the environment by sustaining natural resources and build Minnesota’s economy.

The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council oversees the investment of soybean checkoff dollars on behalf of approximately 25,000 farmers in Minnesota. The Council is governed by the rules of a federally mandated checkoff program that requires all soybean producers pay a fee on the soybeans they sell. This money is used to promote, educate and develop market opportunities for soybeans.

The organization works with the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association to share The R.E.A.L. Story (Responsible, Ethical Agriculture for Life).